Aster x Harvey: Watch Us GROW!
Week 1: Healthy, hungry newborns
This is a period of rapid growth. The puppies spend almost 24 hours/day nursing or sleeping. They have almost doubled their birth weight in just one week! Their size relative to each other, and their projected size as adults may change in the coming weeks. A puppy that is large at 1 week of age can end up on the smaller end, while a pup that starts out small can bypass most of its siblings by the time they go home at 8 weeks. Weekly weigh-ins allow us to track growth patterns over time.
Name, Description, Birth time, Birth weight, and Week 1 Weight
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): 6:58am - 382 grams / 680 grams
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): 7:14am - 312 grams / 490 grams
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): 7:29am - 368 grams / 620 grams
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): 7:48am - 326 grams / 540 grams
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): 7:49am - 312 grams / 570 grams
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): 8:16am - 340 grams / 630 grams
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): 9:06am - 340 grams / 570 grams
L is for Legend-dairy!
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Litter Name: The Legend-dairy Litter (a playful name inspired by having a whole "herd" of "baby cow" puppies! Puppy Names (top to bottom): Galloway, Angus, Charolais, Devon, Dexter, Jersey, Friesen (all cow breeds, for folks who may not be familiar) Date of Birth: March 8, 2026 (International Women's Day!) Number of puppies: 7 (2 females, 5 males) Size: Medium Parents: Coulee Starlight Astraea and Leapfrog Golden Harvest |
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Puppy ID Cheat Sheet
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In birth order... Black Ribbon - DEXTER - male Purple Ribbon - JERSEY - female Orange Ribbon - DEVON - female Yellow Ribbon - CHAROLAIS - male Green Ribbon - ANGUS - male White Ribbon - GALLOWAY - male No Ribbon - FRIESEN - male |
Week 1 Slideshow: Enjoy!!!
Week 2: EYES are opening!
The puppies' eyes started to open this morning, the morning of day 14! It takes a day or two for them to fully open, and another couple of weeks after that for them to be able to see clearly. The next few weeks is a time of rapid development. The puppies will achieve many life-changing developmental milestones in a matter of weeks!
Weekly Weights: Birth / Week 1 / Week 2
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): 382 grams / 680 grams / 970 grams
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): 312 grams / 490 grams / 710 grams
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): 368 grams / 620 grams / 800 grams
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): 326 grams / 540 grams / 740 grams
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): 312 grams / 570 grams / 850 grams
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): 340 grams / 630 grams / 880 grams
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): 340 grams / 570 grams / 780 grams
Week 2: EYES are opening!
The puppies' eyes started to open this morning, the morning of day 14! It takes a day or two for them to fully open, and another couple of weeks after that for them to be able to see clearly. The next few weeks is a time of rapid development. The puppies will achieve many life-changing developmental milestones in a matter of weeks!
Weekly Weights: Birth / Week 1 / Week 2
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): 382 grams / 680 grams / 970 grams
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): 312 grams / 490 grams / 710 grams
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): 368 grams / 620 grams / 800 grams
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): 326 grams / 540 grams / 740 grams
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): 312 grams / 570 grams / 850 grams
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): 340 grams / 630 grams / 880 grams
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): 340 grams / 570 grams / 780 grams
Week 2 Slideshow: Enjoy!!!
Week 3: Now we can PLAY!
The puppies begin to hear at about 18 days of age. With hearing comes vocalization. Three week old puppies make a broader range of sounds than puppies or dogs of any other age! Once they can see, hear, and vocalize, everything changes. They become social little beings!
Weekly Weights (in grams): Birth - Week 3
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): 382 / 680 / 970 / 1450
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): 312 / 490 / 710 / 1140
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): 368 / 620 / 800 / 1370
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): 326 / 540 / 740 / 1250
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): 312 / 570 / 850 / 1300
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): 340 / 630 / 880 / 1360
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): 340 / 570 / 780 / 1250
Week 3: Now we can PLAY!
The puppies begin to hear at about 18 days of age. With hearing comes vocalization. Three week old puppies make a broader range of sounds than puppies or dogs of any other age! Once they can see, hear, and vocalize, everything changes. They become social little beings!
Weekly Weights (in grams): Birth - Week 3
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): 382 / 680 / 970 / 1450
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): 312 / 490 / 710 / 1140
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): 368 / 620 / 800 / 1370
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): 326 / 540 / 740 / 1250
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): 312 / 570 / 850 / 1300
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): 340 / 630 / 880 / 1360
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): 340 / 570 / 780 / 1250
Yay, It's Video Week!
A note about videos - please resist the urge to assign temperament traits or generalize behaviour seen in short video clips. The puppies are too young to show consistent temperament traits. Right now, they are all becoming more mobile, showing interest in their environment, experimenting with lots of different sounds, and interacting with each other, their mom, and us, their human family. Their favourite game is "Are you good to eat?"
A note about videos - please resist the urge to assign temperament traits or generalize behaviour seen in short video clips. The puppies are too young to show consistent temperament traits. Right now, they are all becoming more mobile, showing interest in their environment, experimenting with lots of different sounds, and interacting with each other, their mom, and us, their human family. Their favourite game is "Are you good to eat?"
Sleeping puppies :)
The puppies during their most active, playful portion of the day. This level of energy can only be sustained for 4-5 minutes, at which point they all fall back asleep!
Mama love
Thank you for watching us GROW! See you again NEXT WEEK!
Week 4: Growing by Leaps and Bounds!
By week 4 the puppies are eating three meals/day. They are much more mobile and interactive. With all of these changes, they begin to view their mama not only as a source of food and warmth, but as a friendly giant who doubles as a climbing gym. I suspect they see humans in much the same way!
Weekly Weights (in grams): Birth - Week 4
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): 382 / 680 / 970 / 1.45kg / 1.98 kg
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): 312 / 490 / 710 / 1.14kg / 1.52kg
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): 368 / 620 / 800 / 1.37kg / 1.79kg
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): 326 / 540 / 740 / 1.25kg / 1.68kg
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): 312 / 570 / 850 / 1.3kg / 1.68kg
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): 340 / 630 / 880 / 1.36kg / 1.75kg
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): 340 / 570 / 780 / 1.25kg / 1.73kg
Week 4: Growing by Leaps and Bounds!
By week 4 the puppies are eating three meals/day. They are much more mobile and interactive. With all of these changes, they begin to view their mama not only as a source of food and warmth, but as a friendly giant who doubles as a climbing gym. I suspect they see humans in much the same way!
Weekly Weights (in grams): Birth - Week 4
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): 382 / 680 / 970 / 1.45kg / 1.98 kg
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): 312 / 490 / 710 / 1.14kg / 1.52kg
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): 368 / 620 / 800 / 1.37kg / 1.79kg
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): 326 / 540 / 740 / 1.25kg / 1.68kg
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): 312 / 570 / 850 / 1.3kg / 1.68kg
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): 340 / 630 / 880 / 1.36kg / 1.75kg
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): 340 / 570 / 780 / 1.25kg / 1.73kg
Photos...
Aster being a good mama and remaining with her puppies while I bring puppy gear up and down from the basement and clank around putting together their larger enclosure.
Aster being a good mama and remaining with her puppies while I bring puppy gear up and down from the basement and clank around putting together their larger enclosure.
A view of the puppy room from the kitchen. There's a daybed at one end where I slept for the first couple of weeks to be sure the puppies were safe. The white trolley in front of the bed contains all my whelping supplies. The pony gate door and window with the blind down lead to my home office (I installed a window in the interior wall so I can sit at my desk and watch the puppies - how cool is THAT?!). The barn door in the front left has loads of shelfing behind it where I keep all the puppy gear I use daily, like blankets and toys. On the right is the puppy scale and a chest freezer where I keep all their raw food.
The panels of the enclosure overlap slightly and are joined together with zip ties for stability. Underneath is a slab of linoleum to keep the floors safe. Inside is a giant litter box (the turtle). As you can see, we are transitioning from pee pads to pellets. Behind the litterbox is a crate with the door taken off. The crate is filled with lots of cozy blankets. There's also a water dish and 5-7 toys that are on a 7 day rotation (they get 5-7 at once, and these are replaced with a different 5-7 the next day.
The same toys can be reintroduced after about a week). Toy rotation works better for puppies than having full-time access to dozens of toys.
The panels of the enclosure overlap slightly and are joined together with zip ties for stability. Underneath is a slab of linoleum to keep the floors safe. Inside is a giant litter box (the turtle). As you can see, we are transitioning from pee pads to pellets. Behind the litterbox is a crate with the door taken off. The crate is filled with lots of cozy blankets. There's also a water dish and 5-7 toys that are on a 7 day rotation (they get 5-7 at once, and these are replaced with a different 5-7 the next day.
The same toys can be reintroduced after about a week). Toy rotation works better for puppies than having full-time access to dozens of toys.
Puppies are weaned directly onto raw!
Video - Cuddles with Mama & Me
Week 5: Let the Adventures Begin!
Week 4-5 was a week of many firsts! First bath, first trim (eyes, ears, paws and bum), and first blow dry. First time learning to take treats from our hands, and first time playing outside!
In addition to hosting the Family Visit, I am posting LOTS of photos and videos this week! Next week I have to go out of town, and won't have a chance to take photos. I went completely overboard this week to make up for it! Enjoy the photos and videos! :))
Weekly Weights (kg): Birth - Week 5
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): .382 / .68 / .97 / 1.45kg / 1.98 / 2.38
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): .312 / .49 / .71 / 1.14kg / 1.52 / 1.8
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): .368 / .62 / .8 / 1.37kg / 1.79 / 2.03
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): .326 / .54 / .74 / 1.25kg / 1.68 / 2.04
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): .312 / .57 / .85 / 1.3kg / 1.68 / 2
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): .34/ .63 / .88 / 1.36 / 1.75 / 2.13
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): .34 / .57 / .78 / 1.25 / 1.73 / 2.13
Week 5: Let the Adventures Begin!
Week 4-5 was a week of many firsts! First bath, first trim (eyes, ears, paws and bum), and first blow dry. First time learning to take treats from our hands, and first time playing outside!
In addition to hosting the Family Visit, I am posting LOTS of photos and videos this week! Next week I have to go out of town, and won't have a chance to take photos. I went completely overboard this week to make up for it! Enjoy the photos and videos! :))
Weekly Weights (kg): Birth - Week 5
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): .382 / .68 / .97 / 1.45kg / 1.98 / 2.38
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): .312 / .49 / .71 / 1.14kg / 1.52 / 1.8
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): .368 / .62 / .8 / 1.37kg / 1.79 / 2.03
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): .326 / .54 / .74 / 1.25kg / 1.68 / 2.04
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): .312 / .57 / .85 / 1.3kg / 1.68 / 2
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): .34/ .63 / .88 / 1.36 / 1.75 / 2.13
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): .34 / .57 / .78 / 1.25 / 1.73 / 2.13
Video 1 - For those who missed the Family Visit!
Video 2 - Mama Love!
Week 6: Let's GO!
By week 6, the puppies are one the GO! They adore their outside time, and love learning new things. The next few weeks represent a delicate balance between the puppies being babies who need to be nurtured, comforted, given plenty of rest ~ and them being enthusiastic little beings who are often bursting with energy and enthusiasm! Like human preschoolers, puppies 16 weeks and under do best in an enriched, yet protected environment where curiosity and learning can be supported and encouraged without the puppy becoming overtired and overwhelmed.
Weekly Weights (kg): Birth - Week 5
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): .38 /.68 / .97 /1.45 /1.98 /2.38 /2.9
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): .312 /.49 /.71 /1.14 /1.52 /1.8 /2.16
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): .368 /.62 /.8 /1.37 /1.79 /2.03/2.55
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): .326 /.54 /.74 /1.25kg /1.68 /2.04 /2.5
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): .312 /.57 /.85 /1.3kg /1.68 /2 /2.46
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): .34 /.63 /.88 /1.36 /1.75 /2.13 /2.62
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): .34 /.57 /.78 /1.25 /1.73 /2.13/ 2.62
Videos
As you will recall, I went crazy with photos and videos last week because I knew I wouldn't have time to update them this week. As it turns out, I found time to scoop up each little bundle of love and make a quick video for you!
Caution - please do not make assumptions about the temperament of a puppy based on what you see in a 10 second video! There are many reasons a puppy may be presenting as it is at that moment (neighbour mowing their lawn, dog barking nearby, float plane overhead, truck rumbling by, etc.). Dexter was the first puppy I scooped up and he was still half asleep. The rest of the puppies had time to wake up... you get the picture! I hope you enjoy the videos :)
By week 6, the puppies are one the GO! They adore their outside time, and love learning new things. The next few weeks represent a delicate balance between the puppies being babies who need to be nurtured, comforted, given plenty of rest ~ and them being enthusiastic little beings who are often bursting with energy and enthusiasm! Like human preschoolers, puppies 16 weeks and under do best in an enriched, yet protected environment where curiosity and learning can be supported and encouraged without the puppy becoming overtired and overwhelmed.
Weekly Weights (kg): Birth - Week 5
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): .38 /.68 / .97 /1.45 /1.98 /2.38 /2.9
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): .312 /.49 /.71 /1.14 /1.52 /1.8 /2.16
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): .368 /.62 /.8 /1.37 /1.79 /2.03/2.55
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): .326 /.54 /.74 /1.25kg /1.68 /2.04 /2.5
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): .312 /.57 /.85 /1.3kg /1.68 /2 /2.46
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): .34 /.63 /.88 /1.36 /1.75 /2.13 /2.62
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): .34 /.57 /.78 /1.25 /1.73 /2.13/ 2.62
Videos
As you will recall, I went crazy with photos and videos last week because I knew I wouldn't have time to update them this week. As it turns out, I found time to scoop up each little bundle of love and make a quick video for you!
Caution - please do not make assumptions about the temperament of a puppy based on what you see in a 10 second video! There are many reasons a puppy may be presenting as it is at that moment (neighbour mowing their lawn, dog barking nearby, float plane overhead, truck rumbling by, etc.). Dexter was the first puppy I scooped up and he was still half asleep. The rest of the puppies had time to wake up... you get the picture! I hope you enjoy the videos :)
Mama
She thinks she's a lap dog!
Harvey isn't here to snap photos of today, but I wanted to share a couple of daddy photos anyway!
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Harvey at 6 weeks!
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Harvey gets a kitty :)
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Dexter
Jersey
Devon
Charolais
Angus
Here is a better look at Angus' face...
Galloway
Here is a better look at Galloway's face...
Friesen
Week 7: Final Update (puppies going home at 8 weeks)
During week 7, much of the time I spend with puppies is individual time, shaping behaviours, and practicing basic skills like grooming, clicker training, and manding. This week's photos were taken during a puppy adventure walk through the yard, garden, and meadow. The puppies got to see sheep, chickens, ducks and rabbits and run as far as their eyes could see! What a day!
Weekly Weights (kg): Birth - Week 5
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): .38 /.68 / .97 /1.45 /1.98 /2.38 /2.9/3.3
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): .312 /.49 /.71 /1.14 /1.52 /1.8 /2.16/2.4
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): .368 /.62 /.8 /1.37 /1.79 /2.03/2.55/2.9
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): .326 /.54 /.74 /1.25/1.68 /2.04 /2.5/2.9
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): .312 /.57 /.85 /1.3 /1.68 /2 /2.46/3.03
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): .34 /.63 /.88 /1.36 /1.75 /2.13 /2.62/3.03
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): .34 /.57 /.78 /1.25 /1.73 /2.13/ 2.62/3.0
During week 7, much of the time I spend with puppies is individual time, shaping behaviours, and practicing basic skills like grooming, clicker training, and manding. This week's photos were taken during a puppy adventure walk through the yard, garden, and meadow. The puppies got to see sheep, chickens, ducks and rabbits and run as far as their eyes could see! What a day!
Weekly Weights (kg): Birth - Week 5
Dexter (black ribbon, black male): .38 /.68 / .97 /1.45 /1.98 /2.38 /2.9/3.3
Jersey (purple ribbon, chocolate female): .312 /.49 /.71 /1.14 /1.52 /1.8 /2.16/2.4
Devon:(orange ribbon, chocolate female): .368 /.62 /.8 /1.37 /1.79 /2.03/2.55/2.9
Charolais: (yellow ribbon, chocolate male): .326 /.54 /.74 /1.25/1.68 /2.04 /2.5/2.9
Angus: (green ribbon, black male): .312 /.57 /.85 /1.3 /1.68 /2 /2.46/3.03
Galloway (white ribbon, black male): .34 /.63 /.88 /1.36 /1.75 /2.13 /2.62/3.03
Friesen: (no ribbon, chocolate male): .34 /.57 /.78 /1.25 /1.73 /2.13/ 2.62/3.0